Water Tap - Washington State Department of Health

How customers became owners of 

Whidbey West Water Association 

In December 2010, the owner of the Whidbey West water system notified 

176 homeowners in the West Beach area of Whidbey Island that he would 

terminate operation and maintenance of their water system in one year. 

The notice included an 

offer to sell the system to 

his customers for $1. 

Soon after receiving 

the notice, residents 

Jerry and Vera Pitsch 

started a neighborhood 

organization to consider 

the offer and all its 

implications. While 

Whidbey West Water Association members, from left: Jerry Pitsch, Vera 

they liked the idea of 

Pitsch, Gary Schnee (board president) and Stan Stanley (board treasurer). 

controlling their own 

water destiny, they were skeptical, said Gary Schnee (pronounced shnay), 

now president of the Whidbey West Water Association. The offer seemed too 

good to be true. 

(Continued on Page 13) 

New rates for sanitary surveys 

take effect in 2014 

The fee structure for sanitary surveys will change in January. Under the new 

structure, very small noncommunity water systems may pay less and larger 

systems may pay more. 

Sanitary surveys help identify issues that may present a public health threat. 

The Office of Drinking Water is responsible for completing sanitary surveys of 

all Group A public water systems every three to five years. 

That amounts to about 1,000 surveys a year, so we contract 

with local health jurisdictions and private contractors to 

help us get them all done. 

The fee structure change was required to comply with a 

State Board of Health rule that says we should base the 

fee on the actual hours spent on the survey at a rate of 

$102 per hour. 

Currently, we charge a fixed fee to survey water 

systems serving fewer than 10,000 connections. 


Environmental Public Health Division 

Office of Drinking Water 

Volume 28, #3 - September 2013 

Department of Health 

Office of Drinking Water 

PO Box 47822 

Olympia, WA 98504-7822 

800-521-0323 

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ 

CommunityandEnvironment/ 

DrinkingWater.aspx 

Inside This Issue 

Director’s column........................2 

Group B changes.........................3 

Drinking Water Week.................3 

Coliform monitoring plan.........4 

Publications..................................4 

Professional growth....................5 

DWSRF loans...............................5 

Rapid Rate surface 

water plants..................................6 

TOP award winners................ 6-7 

Filter bed expansion...................8 

Emergency response tools.........9 

School challenge........................10 

Rule making...............................11 

Groundwater Day.....................12 

Change of address.....................14 

Tacoma centennial.....................15 

Reader survey results...............16 

DOH PUB. #331-200

The 

Director’s Column 

by Denise Addotta Clifford 

The last time I brought home a C-, I was in trouble… 

The 2013 Report Card for Washington’s Infrastructure is in, and it isn’t pretty. 

The report card, compiled by the Seattle Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers 

(ASCE), concludes that while there are bright spots, infrastructure maintenance is inadequate in 

Washington and the state lacks planned, guaranteed funding to support it. 

Drinking water got a C-. We can do better! Actually, we did do slightly better than the national 

grade for drinking water infrastructure. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure 

gave drinking water a D. But that’s small comfort. 

Washington’s evaluation team looked at five criteria: Water system capacity and supply, water system condition, funding, 

operation and maintenance, and public health and safety. 

The report card team noted that Washington’s letter grade does not tell the story of what’s really happening in our state. 

They correctly point out that a number of small and medium-sized water systems face serious needs. 

“In general, the smaller systems have a higher probability of having problems, since they do not have the customer base 

or financial wherewithal to support regular maintenance and upgrades,” the report noted. It also pointed out that many 

small systems depend on grants and low-interest loans to maintain the integrity of their drinking water because their rate 

structures are too low. That is not a sustainable way to run a water system. 

It goes without saying that many small, medium, and larger water systems in Washington are in great shape. They 

regularly invest in maintenance, upgrades, staff training, and equipment replacement. EPA’s most recent needs assessment 

places Washington’s infrastructure needs at about $9.5 billion. 

ASCE made six recommendations for improving the state’s drinking water infrastructure: 

1. Fully fund the Public Works Assistance Account. (Note: the 2013-15 biennial budget doesn’t include funding for the 

Public Works Assistance Account.) 

2. Encourage the federal government to fund the Drinking Water State 

Revolving Fund (DWSRF). (Note: We expect DWSRF loans to total 

about $100 million this year.) 

3. Encourage smaller water systems that are able to connect to larger 

systems to do so. 

4. Educate drinking water customers that good water requires adequate 

funding. Some capital funding must be earned through the rate 

structure. 

5. Raise awareness among elected bodies that govern water systems of 

the need to develop a system to acquire capital reserves for long-term 

planning once their system is operating well again. 

6. Support the Department of Ecology’s water rights division to enable 

jurisdictions to acquire water rights as needed. 

These recommendations align nicely with the direction the Office of 

Drinking Water is taking. We focus on building technical, financial and 

managerial capacity among smaller water systems, and tools such as 

consolidation of struggling small water systems. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to settle for a C-. It’s going to 

take all of us working together to move drinking water to its rightful 

place on the infrastructure honor roll. 

A fond farewell 

I am leaving the Office of Drinking 

Water this month to become 

government relations director for the 

Department of Ecology. 

Organizations thrive, grow and do 

even more incredible things when 

a leader with new vision and fresh 

perspective joins the team. It is a 

healthy dynamic, and one that I 

think organizations could do more 

to embrace. My leaving sets the 

stage for someone else to have the 

fabulous opportunity I’ve had to lead 

a creative, passionate team of people 

in carrying out the essential mission 

of ensuring safe and reliable drinking 

water. 

It has been an honor and a pleasure 

to work with all of you. 

Washington State Department of Health 

2 Water Tap • September 2013

Group B system 

designers, applicants: 

Take note! 

Revisions to the state’s Group B Rule will take effect 

January 1, 2014. If you plan to submit an application 

for approval of a new or expanding Group B system 

in the next few months, read on. 

We will review the design of a new or expanding 

Group B water system received on or after January 

1, 2014, based on the standards in the revised Group 

B rule. The revised rule reflects a higher standard for 

design approval. 

Group B water systems serve fewer 

than 15 connections and fewer than 

25 people per day. The state’s 13,000 

Group B water systems serve about 

110,000 people. That’s about 

2 percent of our population. 

Group B water systems are 

regulated under chapter 

246-291 of the 

Washington 

Administrative Code. 

We will review the design of a new or expanding 

Group B water system received on or before December 31, 2013, based on the existing rule, even if our 

review process extends beyond January 1. We will return incomplete submittals received before December 

31 to the applicant. You cannot be “vested” under the existing rule if you submit an incomplete submittal. 

Consider the timing of your design submittal, and apply the appropriate rule and standards based on your 

anticipated submittal date. 

In addition to creating a higher standard for design approval of new and expanding systems, the revisions 

to the Group B rule affect nonexpanding existing Group B systems. Visit our Group B resource page to 

learn more. While you’re there, take time to review our new Group B Design Guidelines, Group B Design 

Workbook, and the resources we’ve developed for Group B water system applicants, owners, designers, 

and consumers. 

Nominate now for 2014 

Drinking Water Week 

If you know of a water system or waterworks operator who deserves 

recognition, tell us. We will celebrate safe and reliable drinking water 

during Drinking Water Week, May 4-10, 2014. 

Fill out and submit an online nomination form to tell us why we should 

honor your nominee. We will accept nominations until February 1, 2014. 

Here’s the URL for drinking water week http://www.awwa.org/ 

resources-tools/public-affairs/public-affairs-events/drinking-waterweek.aspx 

And the form https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=7391 



Publications explain coliform monitoring, 

the Groundwater Rule and E. coli 

response planning 

Chance favors the prepared mind. –Louis Pasteur 

All Group A systems must collect samples for coliform bacterial analysis. In addition, the Coliform Rule 

and the Groundwater Rule require systems to have a plan in place to address E. coli if it is detected. 

Having a plan can bring success and confidence that you are providing safe and reliable water to your 

customers. 

To help you succeed, we developed Preparing a Coliform Monitoring Plan Guidance. It comes in three 

versions, so take a moment to pick the one that’s right for you: 

1. Large or multiple-source systems (331-036) 

2. Systems with one source of supply (331-240) 

3. Consecutive and wholesale systems (331-475) 

These publications include guidance on triggered source monitoring required by the Groundwater Rule 

and incorporate the concept of planning for the occurrence of E. coli bacteria in your water system. 

Each version has instructions on coliform monitoring, templates, checklists, and examples of completed 

plans. 

Groundwater Rule 

In response to a total coliform-positive routine sample, systems with active groundwater sources must 

collect source samples. This sampling is called “triggered source monitoring” (TSM). To understand 

that better, check out the information in your coliform monitoring plan (CMP) publication. If you have 

multiple groundwater sources, it is possible to reduce your TSM requirement by demonstrating in the 

CMP that a specific source cannot supply water to a particular routine sample site. 

E.coli response 

We also included guidance for an E.coli response plan. If your system ever gets an E.coli-positive sample 

result, you will want to be prepared! Our checklists will help you understand whether you are prepared 

and provide specific tasks you can complete to help you respond. By preparing before an event, you can 

best address it without panic and expensive missteps that upset customers needlessly. 

Again, planning is a tool for success. Good coliform monitoring plans will help you get there. 

New & Revised Publications 

Noncommunity Small Water System Management Program Guide (331-474). New! 

August 2013. This 53-page guide will help you develop a tailored management program 

you can use to ensure your water system remains capable of meeting your business and 

customer needs. 

Troubleshooting Bladder Pressure Tanks (331-342). Revised April 2013. This two-page 

tech tip explains what a bladder tank is, how it works, the functions it serves, and how to 

troubleshoot problems. Also available in Spanish. 

Our publications are online at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/eh/dw/publications/publications.cfm 



Operators, why wait? 

Start working on your professional growth requirement now 

Beat the stress of trying to find relevant training in your geographical area, BAT exam dates and locations that 

fill too quickly, and finding dates that fit into already busy schedules. 

December 31, 2015, is the new reporting period deadline for operators and BATs certified before January 1, 2013. 

If you start planning now, you can have your pick of the coursework, exams, training dates, times, and locations. 

Anyone certified after January 1, 2013, has until December 31, 2018, to meet the requirement. 

If your original certification date is 

You must meet the professional growth requirement between: 

Before 1/1/2010 1/1/2013 and 12/31/2015* 

Between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2012 Your original certification date and 12/31/2015* 

Between 1/1/2013 and 12/31/2015 Your original certification date and 12/31/2018* 

*and in each three-year reporting period thereafter 

Check Your Status Online 

Certified waterworks operators and BATs can check their professional growth status and find 

detailed information about the professional growth requirement on the Washington Certification 

Services webpage. 

DWSRF loans will finance projects large and small 

The state Public Works Board approved 49 water systems throughout the state for low-interest loans from 

the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). 

The loans range from about $100,000 to $12 million and include an array of projects, such as replacing 

failing infrastructure and building a large surface water treatment plant. Interest rates are 1 to 1.5 percent. 

The Office of Drinking Water used four main criteria to rank applications: 

• Projects that address the most serious risk to public health 

• Projects necessary to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act 

• Projects that address current compliance actions or an impending public health threat 

• Financial need 

To better meet construction season timing needs, we will transition 

back to a fall loan cycle. This year, we focused on projects that were 

previously on the Public Works Assistance Account funding list, but 

went unfunded due to state budget cuts. Our next loan cycle will be 

the fall of 2014. 

For more information about the DWSRF program, visit our 

website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/ 

DrinkingWater/WaterSystemAssistance/ 

DrinkingWaterStateRevolvingFundDWSRF.aspx 



Rapid-rate surface water filtration plants keep edge 

Results for 2012 are in! Turbidity monitoring data show that our conventional and direct filtration surface water 

treatment plants continue to perform above regulatory standards—and provide better public health protection. 

The filtered water turbidity goals we adopted for these systems are not regulatory. Instead, we encourage 

systems to achieve water quality by using existing facilities, which provides a larger margin of safety. The 

performance of rapid-rate filters for turbidity (particle) removal is a key element in protecting consumers from 

microbial contaminants and maximizing public health. 

Treatment Optimization 

Program’s (TOP) filtered 

water turbidity goals: 

1. Meet 0.10 nephelometric 

turbidity units (NTU) 

or less in 95 percent 

of the maximum daily 

combined filter effluent 

(CFE) measurements 

taken during the year. 

2. Never exceed 0.30 NTU in 

any CFE measurement. 

Other news 

At this time, the City of 

Lynden is constructing a new 

conventional treatment plant 

to replace one built in 1926. 

The City of Tacoma is 

constructing its first 

conventional filtration 

plant to address treatment 

requirements of the Long 

Term 2 Enhanced Surface 

Turbidity reduction performance by all rapid rate treatment plants in Washington from 2001 through 2012. Data points 

are the average of all included treatment plants for each year. 

Water Treatment Rule. This filtration technology has been in use for many years. It appears it will be a preferred 

method for many years to come. 

For more information 

To learn more about TOP and treatment optimization, visit Performance of Rapid Rate Filtration Plants in 

Washington online. 

TOP award winners 

The Treatment Optimization Program (TOP) awards bronze, silver, 

and gold certificates to systems the first time they meet the turbidity 

goals for 3-, 5-, and 10-consecutive years, respectively. This year, three 

systems earned silver certificates and two earned bronze certificates. 

Congratulations! See winners on page 7. 

Our award program started in 2009. Since then, 37 water systems have 

earned awards for excellent treatment performance. Besides meeting 

the goals, the award winners had to remain free of any drinking water 

violations during the evaluation period. 

Dale Wardell, chief operator for the Skagit County PUD Judy Reservoir treatment plant. This plant was one of 

the best at lowering finished water turbidity during 2012 and has been near the top for more than 10 years. 



TOP winners... (Continued from Page 6) 

2013 TOP Award Recipients 

In recognition of excellent performance 

Gold Award 

10 or more years of continuously 

optimized performance 

• Arlington Water 

Department (2001-2012) 

• Lake Whatcom Water and 

Sewer District – South Shore 

Water System (2001-2012) 

• Pasco Water Department 

(2001-2012) 

• Skagit County PUD #1 

– Judy Reservoir System 

(2001-2012) 

Silver Award 

5 to 9 years of continuously 


• Blakely Island Maintenance 

Commission (2008-2012) * 

• Department of Energy 200W 

(2007-2012) 

• City of Kelso (2006-2012) 

• Lake Chelan Reclamation 

District (2005-2012) 

• Lummi Island Scenic Estates 

Community Club (2008- 

2012) * 

• Ryderwood Improvement & 

Service Association (2008- 

2012) * 

• Stevens Pass Water System 

(2005-2012) 

Bronze Award 

3 or 4 years of continuously 


• City of Everett Department 

of Public Works (2009-2012) 

• Island View LUD 9 (2010- 

2012) * 

• City of Leavenworth (2009- 

2012) 

• River Bend Water System 

(2009-2012) 

• City of Woodland (2009- 

2012) 

• City of Yakima Water 

Division (2010-2012) * 

* First-time award recipient for 2013 

You can get help on improving treatment plant performance from our regional offices: 

Eastern Region: Mike Wilson 509-329-2117 

Northwest Region: Nancy Feagin 253-395-6765 

Southwest Region: Janet Cherry 360-236-3036 



Tech Tip for surface water filtration plants 

Filter bed expansion 

Adequate but not excessive backwash rate is important 

for optimum performance. The filter must be clean to 

prevent the formation of mud balls. However, it shouldn’t 

be so clean that it results in lengthy “ripening” time and, 

therefore, a period of poor filter performance. 

One way to determine the correct backwash rate is 

to measure the expansion of the filter media. During 

backwash, a filter bed expands and the material agitates 

to help clean-off the collected particles removed from the 

water. 

• In a sand filter with surface wash, the bed should 

expand about 37 percent. 

• In an anthracite bed with surface wash, the bed 

should expand about 25 percent. 

You can calculate this value by measuring the expanded 

bed against a bed expansion tool. Place the tool on the 

filter surface and hold it in place during backwash. The 

expanding bed will deposit filter material in the tubes. Use 

the longest tube containing material in this calculation: 

Bed exansion tool. 

% of expansion = 

inches of longest tube height x 100 

inches of total filter bed depth 

If bed expansion is inadequate, increase the backwash rate and re-measure the value. 

A bed expansion tool is meant to capture the bed expansion at various heights. Some operators make their own 

bed expansion tool by mounting a series of pipes in 1” height intervals to a base in various fashions, as shown 

in the photo. You can also mount small sections of pipe (closed at the bottom and maybe about 2” high) at 1” 

height intervals in a spiral around the outside of a larger tube. 

Special thanks to The Partnership for Safe Water, an alliance of six organizations, for allowing us to base this 

Tech Tip on an article that appeared in the December 2011 edition of Partnership for Safe Water. 

You can get more information about the Partnership for Safe Water online at http://www.awwa.org/resourcestools/water-utility-management/partnership-for-safe-water.aspx 

A wider discussion of this topic and directions for developing a secchi disk-type bed expansion tool is in 

Incorporating filter bed expansion measurements into your backwashing routine. 



New technologies 

support personal 

awareness for 

emergencies 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the 

Red Cross developed new apps to help families and individuals 

prepare for weather-related emergencies. They created websites to 

help you seek shelter and find loved ones after a disaster. Given the 

recent spate of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods, you may want 

to share these options with your staff, friends, family, and customers. 

Preparedness is always a good thing! 

These mobile apps are available for iPhones and Androids. 

FEMA Alert: Contains safety tips, lists for your emergency kit, open shelters, 

and more. http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app 

Earthquake Alert: Receive alerts when an earthquake occurs, prepare your 

home and family, find help, let others know you’re safe. 

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/earthquake-app 

Hurricane Tracker: Monitor conditions in your area, prepare your family and 

home, find help, and let others know you’re safe. 

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/hurricane-app 

Shelter Finder: Maps locations and shelter details across the nation. Zoom in on 

the local area. http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/shelter-finder-app 

Tornado Warning: Get your home and family ready with life-saving tools, 

interactive quizzes, and simple step-by-step advice. 

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/tornado-app 

Wildfire Alerts: Get wildfire news and updates, prepare your family and 

home, let others know you’re safe, and more. 

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/wildfire-app 

Safe and Well webpage: After a disaster, register to let family and 

friends know you are safe. https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/ 

index.php 

Special thanks to the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators for 

allowing us to reprint this article. 



School challenge doubles water awareness 

By Jaime Placencia, Executive Assistant at Shoreline Water District 

We at Shoreline Water District are convinced that getting students involved in water conservation at an early age 

leads not only to greater awareness, but also to recognition of the positive impact they can make as individuals 

throughout their lives. 

With that in mind, Shoreline Water District issued the 2nd Annual Fix a Leak Week Challenge 

to students in grades K through 8 in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. This year, we 

collaborated with the Saving Water Partnership. We provided instructions to all the schools, 

encouraging teachers to have their students test their home toilets using the “Toilet Leak 

Detection Kit” that the Saving Water Partnership mailed to area residents. 

The results of this year’s challenge were outstanding: 

nearly all schools increased their participation, and 

a couple of new schools joined in the challenge, 

accounting for doubled overall participation! 

King’s Elementary School won the challenge for the second year in a row, with an overwhelming 89 percent 

of students participating. That’s a sharp increase over last year’s 44 percent participation, and included 11 

individual classrooms with 100 percent participation. Shoreline Water District and the Saving Water Partnership 

sponsored a special pizza party to honor the classrooms with the highest percentage of participation. 

Evelyn Huling, principal for King’s Elementary School, reported how persistent her own granddaughter, 

a kindergartner at King’s Elementary, was: “Not a day went by that she didn’t ask me if we’d checked our 

toilets. When we finally did the test, sure enough, our toilet was losing water. I had no idea.” Thanks to her 

granddaughter’s ongoing coaxing, the Hulings performed the necessary repairs. “It was so simple; we had it 

done in a few minutes.” 

Shoreline Water District is proud of the students, parents and teachers who took the time to learn more about 

water conservation through our second annual challenge. We look forward to achieving even greater results 

next year! 

Fix a Leak Week occurs every year in March. It’s a great opportunity to remind your customers to check their 

household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Start to plan an event for your community today. 

(http://www.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/fix_a_leak.html) 



RULE MAKING 

Current rule making 

Waterworks Operator Certification Rule 

Because state law initiated the rule-making process for the Waterworks Operator Certification Rule 

(chapter 246-292 WAC), we continued rule development during the rule-making moratorium. We will 

hold a public hearing at 10 a.m., September 27, 2013, in Room 153 of Point Plaza East, at the Department 

of Health, 310 Israel Road S.E. in Tumwater. You can view the draft rules on our rule-making activities 

webpage. 

The goals of the rule making are to: 

• Incorporate changes made to chapter 70.119 RCW from Substitute House Bill 1283 Chapter 221, Laws 

of 2009, Public Water System Operators. 

• Incorporate Department of Health guidance and long-standing program practices. 

• Clarify existing federal and state requirements and procedures. 

The rule adoption and effective dates are on the Waterworks Operator Certification Rule Development 

Timeline. For more information, please contact Theresa Phillips 

at 360-236-3147. 

Drinking Water Laboratory Certification 

Rule making activities for this chapter have resumed since the 

expiration of the state’s moratorium on noncritical rule making. 

We are now revising the draft rule language and beginning to 

draft the required analysis documents. 

The goals of the rule making are to: 

• Remove requirements that duplicate Department of Ecology 

rules. 

• Ensure consistent and reliable data reporting. 

• Add electronic data reporting requirements. 

• Enable public water systems and the department to respond 

quickly to drinking water quality problems. 

The Laboratory Certification Rule Development Timeline 

outlines projected dates for the remaining steps of the process. 

For more information, please contact Chris Cooper, laboratory 

issues coordinator, at 360-236-3115. 

Revised Total Coliform Rule 

In February 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

finalized a Revised Total Coliform Rule. The new rule improves 

the original federal Total Coliform Rule (adopted June 1989) 

in the areas of monitoring, assessments, corrective action, 

violations, and public notices. It also changed the health 

indicator from fecal coliform to E. coli, which is a better indicator. 

The Revised Total Coliform Rule requires systems vulnerable 

to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems. The 

intent of these changes is to provide more effective public health 

protection by reducing exposure to fecal contamination in 

drinking water. 

An array of acronyms 

In our rule-making work, we 

use quite a few acronyms and 

abbreviations. Here are a few 

that you may come across as 

you explore our rule-making 

activities: 

RCW = Revised Code of 

Washington. These are the state’s 

laws. The Legislature meets each 

year to amend, repeal, and create 

new RCWs. 

WAC = Washington 

Administrative Code. These are 

the state’s rules. The Legislature 

gives rule-making authority 

to state agencies, like the 

Department of Health. 

WSR = Washington State 

Register. This refers to a specific 

publication of the Register. A 

publication number usually 

follows this abbreviation. The 

first two digits of the number 

refer to the publication year. 

§ = Section. It can refer to a 

section of WAC amended in a 

WSR publication. 




September 10: National Protect 

Your Groundwater Day 

The National Ground Water Association declared September 10 “Protect 

Your Groundwater Day” to call attention to the importance of groundwater 

protection. Groundwater protection depends on both water conservation 

and preventing contamination. Much of our drinking water in Washington State comes from groundwater, 

emphasizing its importance. 

Follow these links for some things you can do to protect your groundwater: 

• Protect your drinking water well’s sanitary control area 

• Choose nontoxic ways to clean your house or car 

• Practice common sense gardening 

• Safely dispose of hazardous materials 

Everyday practices can harm groundwater, so it’s up to us to be agents of change. Americans use about 79.6 

billion gallons of groundwater per day, making us the largest water users in the world. We all have a stake 

in maintaining groundwater quality and quantity because 99 percent of available freshwater comes from 

underground aquifers. 

For more information about Protect Your Groundwater Day, visit the National Ground Water Association online. 

Rule making... (Continued from Page 11) 

In June 2013, we received delegated rule-making authority from the State Board of Health to adopt 

the new requirements into chapter 246-290 WAC, Group A public water supplies. The timeline 

for this rule is on the rule-making activities webpage. For more information, please contact 

Theresa Phillips at 360-236-3147. 

Other rulemaking information 

Please visit our rule-making activities webpage for more information about these 

rules and basic information about the rule-making process. You can also subscribe to 

our rule-making email list to receive updates. 

Questions? 

If you have any questions, please contact Brad Burnham, rules coordinator, at 

360-236-3158. 



Whidbey... (Continued from Page 1) 

In April 2011, the homeowners agreed to explore the purchase option. They formed a 12-person steering 

committee to gather the information they would need to make a final decision. 

The committee soon hired an attorney and an engineer to provide advice and inventory the water system’s 

assets. Several committee members put up the money for legal and engineering services. They met with Office 

of Drinking Water staff to learn about the many requirements for operating a small system and what it would 

take to put the Whidbey West system in good order. 

“From time to time, a water supplier can lose track of the level of effort and financial resources needed 

to maintain a water system,” said Derek Pell, assistant manager of our Northwest regional office. “While 

water quality test results show the water is safe to drink, the treatment, pumps, and pipes may slowly 

degrade without an adequate maintenance and improvement plan. We keep a watchful eye on water system 

performance and look for ways to address this issue.” 

On Dec. 7, 2011, just one week before the owner’s announced termination date, the homeowners met to make a 

decision. They reviewed the water system’s assets, a budget presentation and the proposed rate structure. When 

it came time to vote, the decision was unanimous. They would become the Whidbey West Water Association. 

Part of the agreement required each property owner to join the association. 

“We wanted to control our destiny all the way through,” said Mr. Schnee. 

The steering committee was authorized to work on the purchase until a board of directors could be elected. In 

March 2012, they incorporated as the Whidbey West Water Association, opened a bank account and established 

a line of credit, set up insurance, and drafted bylaws. 

That summer, they completed an agreement to transfer ownership to the new water association, effective Sept. 

1, 2012. By mid-November, the association elected a nine-member board of directors and hired King Water 

Systems to operate the water system, billing, maintenance and testing. The board oversees all operations. 

Since taking over, the association has made about $28,000 in improvements: cleaning water storage tanks, and 

placing service meters. The 30 meters they’ve installed so far have helped identify multiple leaks that they’ve 

repaired. Their goal is to get all customers on meters. They also plan to install an aeration system to minimize 

iron and manganese. 

The board is currently working on a Small Water System Plan, which they hope to complete this fall. They also 

hired an engineer to study the feasibility of adding another 20-25 connections and activating an emergency well. 

After one year, they’re operating at a profit and building reserves. 

“In my experience, customers who own their water system are more motivated to focus effort and resources to 

assure safe and reliable drinking water—and that is what it is all about,” Pell said. “The interest in taking on 

ownership of the water system and community organizing is the most thorough and effective that I’ve seen. My 

hat is off to Gary Schnee, Jerry Pitsch, Stan Stanley, and their team.” 

Schnee revealed a secret of the association’s success: good communication. The steering committee sent letters to 

the homeowners every three months explaining what was happening, how they were proceeding and the issues 

they were exploring. 

“Communication is the most important issue,” he said. “We let them know what was going on and what we 

were doing. We include news in every billing. We still feel communication is going to be paramount to keeping 

people involved.” 



New rates... (Continued from Page 1) 

The fees range from $510 to $1,836, depending on system size. The fees are based on the average time spent to 

complete a sanitary survey. We use state and federal funds to subsidize 50 percent of the direct costs for systems 

serving fewer than 1,000 connections. 

Under the new fee structure, we’ll charge water systems serving fewer than 10,000 connections $102 per hour for 

the following direct survey costs: 

• Survey scheduling, research and preparation 

• Survey field work 

• Survey documentation, including preparation of a survey report 

These water systems will not have to pay for travel costs, extra technical assistance, post-survey follow-up and 

other expenses. Those costs will be subsidized with federal and state funds. 

We will charge systems serving 10,000 or more connections for survey scheduling, research, and preparation; 

survey fieldwork; survey documentation; travel time; and post-survey follow-up. 

Some surface water systems and the state’s largest water systems may require more than one Department of 

Health surveyor. In that case, each surveyor’s time will be billed for all activity applicable to the system’s size. 

Sanitary surveys for most small water systems are completed by the local health jurisdiction (LHJ) or a private 

third-party contract surveyor. If the LHJ has local authority to set its own fees, its fees will prevail within 

the jurisdiction. Beginning in 2014, we will implement the following changes to our fee charged for surveys 

conducted by a private third-party contract surveyor or an LHJ that doesn’t have local fee authority: 

• The fixed survey fee charged to very small noncommunity systems will decrease from $510 to $400. 

• The sanitary survey fee for larger noncommunity systems and for community water systems will increase 

from $510 to $600. 

If you have questions, contact Scott Torpie at 360-236-3131. 

Moved recently? Changed employers? 

Don’t lose your waterworks certification! 

We will mail waterworks operator certification annual renewals in mid-November. Do we have your 

current home mailing address? It’s your responsibility to let us know in writing when you 

move or change employers. 

Every year operators have to pay late fees or lose their certification because they fail to 

report address changes. The Waterworks Certification Guideline states: 

“Failure to notify the Waterworks Operator Certification Program in writing of a 

change of address does not constitute a reasonable excuse for failure to renew a 

certificate prior to assessment of the renewal late fee. The Department of Health 

will not consider appeals from operators assessed the late fee for failure to 

renew due to an unreported address change.” 

There are several ways to update your information. Be sure to include your operator certification 

number on all correspondence. 

Write us: Waterworks Operator Certification Program 

P.O. Box 47822 

Olympia WA 98504-7822 

Use the online address change form. 

Email: Larry Granish Fax: Larry Granish at 360-236-2252 

Questions? Call Larry Granish at 360-236-3141 or 800-525-2536, Ext. 1. 



Clean, reliable water since 1913 

Tacoma Water celebrates 100 years of bringing Green River water to the community 

By Nora Doyle, Communication and Marketing Strategist, Tacoma Public Utilities 

Today, the 43-mile gravity-based pipeline running from Enumclaw to Tacoma 

remains the core of Tacoma Water’s delivery method. Click the image to watch a 

video on this project. 

In July, Tacoma Water marked a very important 

anniversary: 100 years of providing high-quality 

drinking water from the Green River. 

In the late 1800s, Tacoma was a young city. The growing 

population desperately needed water for drinking and 

fire safety, but there was no dependable water supply. 

In 1884, people were relieved when Charles Wright 

incorporated the Tacoma Light & Water Company and 

began the search for water. 

In 1893, the City of Tacoma became the new owner 

of the water utility, which, by that point, was literally 

falling apart. It had significant leaks—not surprising 

for a system built of wood. Moreover, the utility still 

lacked a dependable water source. Many options 

were explored as the public suffered with discolored, 

lukewarm, earthy-tasting and foul-smelling water. 

A well field in South Tacoma proved the first workable 

option, and a few wells were producing water by 1906. 

Meanwhile, the mayor orchestrated the purchase of water rights in two places on the Green River. It would 

prove a wise decision. 

Political battles followed, with some preferring wells to the Green River. The issue went to a public vote, and the 

Green River proposition failed. However, as the quality of the existing system continued to deteriorate, the issue 

went back to the voters. They had a change of heart, finally approving a Green River pipeline. 

Work on the system took two full years, with hundreds of men doing the grueling work of laying 43 miles of 

pipe from Enumclaw to Tacoma. Finally, on July 12, 1913, the water valves in Tacoma were fully opened and 42 

million gallons per day of Green River water flowed into Tacoma, giving the city its permanent water supply. 

At the time, it was the largest municipal project in the city’s 40-year history. Today, the gravity-based system 

remains the core of Tacoma’s water delivery method. 

In This Issue 

The following people contributed to the production of this issue of Water Tap: 

Ally Chess, Barbara Martin, Brad Burnham, Carolyn Cox, Denise A. Clifford, Derek Pell, Diane Pottinger, Ethan Moseng, Gary Schnee, Ingrid 

Salmon, Jaime Placencia, Janet Cherry, Joe Crossland, Kitty Weisman, Larry Granish, Linda Waring, Mike Dexel, Nancy Feagin, Nora Doyle, 

Peggy Barton, Scott Torpie. 

The Department of Health Office of Drinking Water publishes Water Tap quarterly to provide information to water system owners, waterworks 

operators and others interested in drinking water. 

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, Secretary of Health 

Maryanne Guichard, Assistant Secretary of Health, Environmental Public Health Division 

Denise A. Clifford, Director, Office of Drinking Water 

Comments, questions, story ideas, articles and photographs submitted for publication are welcome. Please address correspondence to Linda 

Waring, Editor, Water Tap, Office of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822, or email linda.waring@doh.wa.gov. Past 

issues are online at http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/WaterTapNewsletter.aspx 



Reader survey results 

Water Tap is just the right length and most of the articles contain just the right amount of information, according to more 

than 90 percent of the readers who responded to the survey we conducted in March. Close to 84 percent of readers also 

like receiving the publication quarterly. We issued the survey to find out what readers think about the new online Water 

Tap. We were delighted to get nearly 400 responses. We value your opinions and the comments you shared with us. 

We are already implementing some of your suggestions. For example, in this edition we eliminated the two-column 

format because some readers said, “It needs to be taken out of the column format. In reading an article you scroll down to 

the end of the column then you have to go back up to continue the article.” 

Several readers indicated difficulty navigating from the email through the electronic version of the newsletter. In the 

email, you can click the story you want to read or view the full issue by clicking the link at the top of the page. In either 

case, after you open the electronic Water Tap, you can use the scroll bar at the right to scan the entire newsletter. You 

can navigate stories longer than one page by clicking the gray “Continued on Page…” prompt. To get back, click on the 

“Continued from…” prompt. 

Although several readers indicated a preference for the printed version of Water Tap, we don’t anticipate returning to the 

printed format. We are looking for a user-friendly way for you to find what you need from past issues of Water Tap online. 

Which of the following best describes you? 

40 % Operator 

16 % Local government 

13 % Owner 

6 % Cross-connection control specialist 

2 % Lab 

23 % Other. Of those, 24 % are engineers or consultants. 

Some people keep old copies of Water Tap. Do you 

maintain a collection of Water Taps for future reference? 

29 % Yes 

32 % No 

39 % Sometimes 

Compared to the printed version we used to send, how 

much time do you spend reading Water Tap? 

17 % More time with the electronic version 

46 % About the same amount of time 

37 % More time with the printed version 

Do you print out Water Tap? 

8 % Yes 

61 % No 


Do you share Water Tap with others in your office? 

37 % Yes 

37 % No 


Water Tap is . . . 

94 % Just the right length 

2 % Too long 

4 % Too short 

If yes, how do you share Water Tap? (select all that apply) 

Most of the articles in Water Tap are . . . 

91 % Just the right amount of information 

4 % Too long 

5 % Too short 

43 % 

0.3 % 

26 % 

16 % 

23 % 

5 % 

Which best describes your opinion on the frequency of 

Water Tap? 

83 % I like Water Tap the way it is (quarterly). 

17 % I would like a more frequent Water Tap. 

The online Water Tap uses words, graphics, or whole 

web addresses to link to other resources. Which 

describes your preference? 

83 % The linked word, phrase, or graphic is 

enough for me. 

17 % I need the whole web address.

Water Tap - Washington State Department of Health

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